Florida group acquires Chicago Ridge Mall

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By Bob Bong Chicago Ridge Mall opened in 1981 on the former site of the Starlite Drive-In Theater, which had closed in 1979 after a three-decade run. It was expanded in 1986. It has had several owners over the years including the Lenhdorff Group, which bought the mall in 1986 and turned around and sold…

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Oak Lawn welcomes second Panda Express restaurant

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By Joe Boyle A large crowd of customers began lining up outside the new Panda Express in Oak Lawn the morning of Feb. 15 and were not disappointed when they entered the restaurant. A major draw to the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony was that the first 88 customers to enter the restaurant would receive…

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Comings & Goings: Joey’s Red Hots to open Monday in Orland Hills

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By Bob Bong Co-owner Anthony Nardo is not one to miss an opportunity to expand the reach of the Joey’s Red Hots empire. The Orland Park-based chain of restaurants has set Monday, February 26, as the opening date for its newest Joey’s location, in Orland Hills. Nardo and his partner Nick Iozzo jumped quickly when…

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Hidden Oaks Nature Center to close for renovation

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By Bob Bong Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Bolingbrook is about to be transformed, but the process will require the facility to be closed for most of the year starting Monday, Feb. 19. “We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause but promise to be an asset to the community and a great place to visit…

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Panda Express opening new concept location next week in Oak Lawn

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By Bob Bong Panda Express will be celebrating the grand opening of its newest location at 4801 W. 87th St. in Oak Lawn with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony with members of the Oak Lawn Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, February 15, beginning at 9 a.m. The first lucky 88 guests to receive a free Panda Express branded T-shirt.…

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Bedford Park buys Southern Belle restaurant

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By Bob Bong Southern Belle’s restaurant in Bedford Park closed for the last time last Sunday after more than two decades at 6737 S. Archer Ave. The village has a contract to purchase the site for $2.5 million. Closing is expected in the first quarter. Bedford Park Mayor Dave Brady said a plan to move…

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Pace debuts inaugural electric bus route in south suburbs

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By Bob Bong First it was electric cars, then trucks, and now, buses. Pace, the suburban bus transit agency, last Friday introduced its first electric bus at its Southwest Division station in Bridgeview. The state-of-the-art Gillig bus is now operational on Route 381 95th Street serving riders in the southwest suburbs, including Evergreen Park, Oak Lawn, Chicago Ridge,…

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Subaru opens new dealership in Evergreen Park

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By Joe Boyle Officials with Subaru had been eyeing the possibility of bringing a dealership to Evergreen Park for a long time. Now, the wait is over. The ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening officially took place on Dec. 7 at Subaru Evergreen Park, 3101 W. 95th St. “Evergreen Park has been great to work with,” said…

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